Quick answer: Yes, plenty of restaurants are open on Thanksgiving in Orlando, mostly theme park and resort restaurants, hotel dining rooms and larger full-service restaurants. Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26. Adega Gaucha Orlando is open 11:00 am to 9:00 pm with a $66 Thanksgiving churrasco that includes a turkey carving station and holiday sides. Book early, because the best times go first.
This time of year, we hear two kinds of questions. One comes from local families who’ve decided this is the year nobody cooks. The other comes from visitors already in Orlando for the parks, asking, “Is anything even open on Thursday?”
The good news for both is yes. Orlando is a tourism city, so Thanksgiving Day is busy, not closed. The catch is that the tables people want go early, and plenty of smaller places do close for the holiday. This guide explains what’s usually open, how to book without stress, what to do around Thanksgiving week, and how Thanksgiving works at our Orlando restaurant near the Florida Mall.
Thanksgiving 2026 in Orlando at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When is Thanksgiving 2026? | Thursday, November 26, 2026 |
| Are Orlando restaurants open? | Many are, especially in the tourist corridor, hotels and theme park districts |
| Adega Gaucha Orlando hours | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day |
| Thanksgiving price | $66 per person for the Full Churrasco Experience, dinner prices all day |
| What’s included | 17+ fire-roasted cuts, a turkey carving station, holiday sides and the 50+ item Gourmet Table |
| Where | 8204 Crystal Clear Ln #1700, near the Florida Mall, about 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport |
| Reservations | Strongly recommended. Book online or call (407) 250-4455 |
Which restaurants are open on Thanksgiving in Orlando?
There’s no single official list, because every restaurant sets its own holiday hours. Here’s the pattern we see around town.
Usually open:
- Theme park and resort restaurants. Orlando’s big parks operate on Thanksgiving, so their restaurants do too. Expect high demand and book well ahead.
- Disney Springs and the entertainment districts. Busy, festive, and popular with visitors who don’t want to leave the resort area.
- Hotel restaurants. Many International Drive and Lake Buena Vista hotels run holiday buffets or set menus for guests and locals.
- Larger full-service restaurants and steakhouses. Places built for big groups often treat Thanksgiving as one of the biggest days of their year. That’s us, too.
Often closed or limited:
- Small independent restaurants that give their whole team the day off.
- Quick-service and fast-casual spots, which may close early or keep shorter hours.
How to check before you go: look at the restaurant’s Google Business Profile for special holiday hours, check its website or reservation page for a Thanksgiving menu, and call if you’re unsure. A restaurant taking Thanksgiving reservations online is almost always open.
Thanksgiving at Adega Gaucha Orlando
If you want a Thanksgiving meal where nobody has to watch an oven, here’s exactly what we serve. The full details live on our Thanksgiving dinner page.
The Full Churrasco Experience, $66 per person. Our gauchos bring 17+ fire-roasted cuts to your table: Picanha, Filet Mignon, Fraldinha, and more, carved onto your plate for as long as you keep your coaster on green.
A turkey carving station, Thanksgiving Day only. Oven-roasted turkey is carved fresh at the station with the same care we give our signature cuts. It comes with the classics: sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, and gravy.
The 50+ item Gourmet Table. Signature salads, charcuterie, hot dishes, and roasted vegetables, so vegetarians and lighter eaters have plenty to enjoy.
Other ways to eat. Not everyone at the table wants the full churrasco. The Gourmet Table and our à la carte menu are also available. Dinner prices apply all day on Thanksgiving.
The practical bits. We’re open 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day, near the Florida Mall, about 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport, with front and garage parking on site.
Never had churrasco before? Our guide to Picanha, Brazil’s prized top sirloin cap is a good two-minute primer before you come.
Why a Brazilian steakhouse works for Thanksgiving groups
Thanksgiving tables are hard to please. Grandparents, picky teenagers, a vegetarian cousin, someone who only wants dessert. Rodízio solves most of that by design.
- Everyone eats at their own pace. The cuts keep coming, so nobody waits for one plate to land at a time.
- There’s something for every diet. Meat lovers get 17+ cuts, the vegetarian builds a full plate from the Gourmet Table, and the traditionalist gets turkey with cranberry and gravy.
- No host burns out. No shopping list, no 5 am turkey prep, no sink full of dishes. The person who usually cooks finally gets to sit down.
- It feels like a celebration. Gauchos carving at the table make the meal an event, which matters when the family only gets together once a year.
Saving room for dessert? Our guide to Brazilian desserts covers the brigadeiros and flan worth leaving space for.
How to book Thanksgiving dinner in Orlando without the stress
- Book now, not next week. Thanksgiving is one of our busiest days of the year, and prime evening times fill first. Reserve your table at Adega Gaucha Orlando as soon as your headcount is roughly clear.
- Pick your time on purpose. An early afternoon table (around 12:00 to 2:00 pm) leaves the evening free for football, a nap, or the parks. Early evening is the classic choice and the first to sell out.
- Booking for a big family? For larger parties, call (407) 250-4455 or use our group dining page so we can seat everyone together.
- Mention dietary needs and occasions in your notes. A birthday, a first Thanksgiving in Florida or a guest with allergies are all worth telling us ahead of time.
- Leave a buffer for traffic. Holiday traffic around the parks and I-4 is real. Give yourself an extra 15 minutes.
What to do in Orlando Thanksgiving week
Thanksgiving week is one of the most festive times to be in Orlando. Here’s how locals and visitors fill the days around the big meal.
Do a park day, but go early. The major theme parks stay open on Thanksgiving and the days around it, and holiday decorations and seasonal events start appearing across the parks in late November. Crowds are heavy, so arrive at opening and plan a sit-down meal outside the park in the evening.
Shop Black Friday at the Florida Mall. Our Orlando restaurant is just around the corner from the Florida Mall, one of the biggest shopping centers in Central Florida. Shop the morning after Thanksgiving, then come back for a relaxed meal. Check the mall’s own holiday hours before you go.
Take an easy evening walk. Lake Eola in downtown Orlando is a calm way to walk off a big meal, and International Drive is lit up and lively most nights.
Plan a date night while the grandparents babysit. Family in town often means a free evening. Our Orlando date night guide has seven ideas beyond the parks.
Heading to Universal’s newest park? See our guide to things to do near Universal Epic Universe before or after dinner.
For a full list of what’s happening across the city that week, Visit Orlando keeps an up-to-date events calendar.
Three easy Thanksgiving plans in Orlando
The local family plan. Sleep in, watch the parade, then sit down at 1:00 pm for churrasco and turkey. You’re home by late afternoon with zero dishes and room for pie.
The park visitor plan. Spend the morning in the parks, head back to your hotel to rest, then book a 5:30 pm table. You get a proper Thanksgiving dinner without paying park prices for it.
The just-landed plan. Flying into Orlando International Airport on Thursday? We’re about 15 minutes away. Book a late afternoon table, drop your bags and start the trip with a real holiday meal.
The rest of the long weekend
Thanksgiving is one day, but most families have four. Here’s how the weekend looks at Adega Gaucha Orlando once Thursday is over.
Friday, November 27. Our regular menu is back. It’s an easy lunch stop after a morning of Black Friday shopping at the Florida Mall, and a good choice for anyone who missed Thursday or wants a second round with the family still in town.
Saturday and Sunday brunch. Weekend brunch runs from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm, with the Full Churrasco Experience at $52 per person. On Saturdays from noon to 3:00 pm, the Chocolate Fountain is included with the Full Churrasco Experience, which tends to win over the kids. On Saturday afternoons, paella also joins the Gourmet Table.
Leftover-free Sunday. If you cooked on Thursday after all, Sunday brunch is a nice way to end the weekend without facing another plate of reheated turkey.
Prices and hours for every service are on our full menu.
Also celebrating in Kissimmee or South Florida?
The same Thanksgiving menu is served at all three of our Florida restaurants. Our Kissimmee location on US-192 is about five minutes from Disney’s Animal Kingdom and open 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Deerfield Beach, between Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, is open 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Planning a December office party instead? See our holiday party options.
What our Orlando guests say
Thanksgiving is about gratitude, so we’ll let our guests do the talking. These are excerpts from recent Google reviews of our Orlando restaurant:
“The picanha was perfectly cooked, incredibly flavorful, and one of the best I’ve had.”
Hector Martinez, Google review, July 2026
“We also had a guest visiting from Turkey, and the restaurant surprised us by writing ‘thank you’ in Turkish on the dessert plate… such a thoughtful touch!”
Su DeFreitas, Google review, June 2026
“Every cut of steak that came to our table was perfectly seasoned, incredibly tender, and cooked exactly as it should be.”
A. Malik, Google review, August 2026
Adega Gaucha Orlando holds a 4.9 rating from 9,600+ Google reviews and has been an OpenTable Diners’ Choice winner from 2023 to 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Are restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Orlando?
Yes. Many restaurants in Orlando open on Thanksgiving, especially theme park, resort and hotel restaurants and larger full-service restaurants. Smaller independent spots are more likely to close, so check holiday hours before you go.
What date is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving 2026 is on Thursday, November 26.
Is Adega Gaucha Orlando open on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes. Adega Gaucha Orlando is open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
How much is Thanksgiving dinner at Adega Gaucha?
The Full Churrasco Experience is $66 per person on Thanksgiving and includes the turkey carving station, holiday sides and the Gourmet Table. Dinner prices apply all day.
Is there turkey at Adega Gaucha on Thanksgiving?
Yes. Oven-roasted turkey is carved at a holiday carving station on Thanksgiving Day only, served with sweet potato casserole, cranberry and gravy.
Do I need a reservation for Thanksgiving in Orlando?
Yes, reservations are strongly recommended. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest restaurant days of the year in Orlando. Book online or call (407) 250-4455.
Can I book Thanksgiving dinner for a large group?
Yes. For larger parties, call the Orlando restaurant or visit our group dining page so we can plan your table.
Ready to hand someone else the turkey this year? Reserve your Thanksgiving table in Orlando or see the full Thanksgiving menu and details.
